Know Your Environment. Protect Your Health.

STATE

North Carolina

CONTAMINANTS

133

serves

9,564,000

data

2013-2024

UTILITIES

1,986

Overview

EWG's drinking water quality report for North Carolina shows results of tests conducted by the water utilities in North Carolina and provided to EWG by the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

LARGE UTILITIES
ALL UTILITIES WITH VIOLATIONS
LARGE UTILITIES WITH VIOLATIONS

Large utilities in North Carolina

Below are utilities in North Carolina serving over 10,000 people, listed alphabetically.

UtilityLocationPeople Served
Aberdeen, Town ofAberdeen, NC12,241
Alexander County Water DistrictHickory, NC12,741
Anson County Water SystemWadesboro, NC13,880
Appalachian State Univ WTPBoone, NC11,150
Bayleaf MasterDenver, NC15,585
Beaufort County Northside Regional WaterWashington, NC22,467
Bell Arthur Water CorporationBell Arthur, NC10,635
Bertie County Regional WaterWindsor, NC12,893
Black Mountain, Town ofBlack Mountain, NC10,125
Bladen County Water Dist-West BladenElizabethtown, NC12,014
Brevard, City ofBrevard, NC10,686
Broad River Water AuthorityRutherfordton, NC17,093
Brookwood Comm. Water SystemDenver, NC15,665
Brunswick County Water SystemBolivia, NC152,030
Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer H2goLeland, NC45,748
Caldwell County Water System-SELenoir, NC15,007
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority - WilmingtonWilmington, NC180,516
Carolina Beach Water SystemCarolina Beach, NC12,294
CaryCary, NC212,000
Charlotte WaterCharlotte, NC1,122,276
Chatham Co-NorthPittsboro, NC22,948
Chowan County Water SystemEdenton, NC10,762
City of AlbemarleAlbemarle, NC17,368
City of ArchdaleArchdale, NC12,700
City of AsheboroAsheboro, NC27,191
City of AshevilleAsheville, NC156,720
City of BelmontBelmont, NC15,010
City of BurlingtonBurlington, NC59,287
City of ClintonClinton, NC12,459
City of ConcordConcord, NC112,212
City of ConoverConover, NC15,540
City of DunnDunn, NC12,088
City of DurhamDurham, NC321,414
City of EdenEden, NC15,023
City of GoldsboroGoldsboro, NC34,959
City of GrahamGraham, NC18,057
City of GreensboroGreensboro, NC318,057
City of HendersonvilleHendersonville, NC78,298
City of HickoryHickory, NC65,707
City of High PointHigh Point, NC116,270
City of JacksonvilleJacksonville, NC41,156
City of KannapolisKannapolis, NC48,893
City of KingKing, NC23,198
City of KinstonKinston, NC27,475
City of LaurinburgLaurinburg, NC18,288
City of LenoirLenoir, NC23,192
City of LexingtonLexington, NC19,200
City of LincolntonLincolnton, NC12,453
City of LumbertonLumberton, NC24,116
City of MebaneMebane, NC18,579
City of MonroeMonroe, NC37,264
City of MorgantonMorganton, NC26,576
City of Mount AiryMount Airy, NC10,314
City of Mount HollyMount Holly, NC17,780
City of New BernNew Bern, NC30,070
City of NewtonNewton, NC17,592
City of RaleighRaleigh, NC620,000
City of ReidsvilleReidsville, NC14,087
City of Rocky MountRocky Mount, NC55,047
City of RoxboroRoxboro, NC10,832
City of SanfordSanford, NC47,302
City of ShelbyShelby, NC21,826
City of StatesvilleStatesville, NC28,844
City of ThomasvilleThomasville, NC27,485
City of WashingtonWashington, NC13,000
City of WilsonWilson, NC50,001
City of Winston-SalemPfafftown, NC374,403
ClaytonClayton, NC25,444
Cleveland County WaterLawndale, NC56,596
Cliffdale WestDenver, NC15,463
Craven County Water SystemNew Bern, NC36,830
Currituck County Water SystemMaple, NC17,430
Dan River Water IncEden, NC11,890
Dare County Water SystemKill Devil Hills, NC22,766
Davidson Water Inc.Welcome, NC163,586
Davie County Water SystemMocksville, NC29,947
Deep Run Water CorporationDeep Run, NC13,332
Duplin County Water SystemKenansville, NC18,542
Eastern Pines Water CorpGreenville, NC22,230
Edgecombe Water & Sewer DistrictTarboro, NC12,845
Elizabeth CityElizabeth City, NC19,187
ElonElon, NC11,350
Energy United Water CorpHiddenite, NC13,445
Fayetteville Public Works CommissionFayetteville, NC214,137
Flowers PlantationDenver, NC10,704
Franklin County Water & SewerYoungsville, NC24,612
Gates County Water SystemGatesville, NC11,621
Greene County Regional Water SystemSnow Hill, NC10,183
Greenville Utilities Comm.Greenville, NC103,140
Halifax Co--HalifaxHalifax, NC20,250
Hamlet Water SystemHamlet, NC10,289
Harnett County Department of Public UtilitiesLillington, NC109,415
HarrisburgHarrisburg, NC19,439
Havelock Water SystemHavelock, NC14,550
Henderson-Kerr Lake Reg WaterHenderson, NC14,998
HillsboroughHillsborough, NC15,238
Hoke County Regional Water SystemRaeford, NC24,899
Iredell Water CorporationStatesville, NC24,733
Johnston County - EastSmithfield, NC40,086
Johnston County - WestSmithfield, NC70,549
Kings MountainKings Mountain, NC13,484
Lincoln County WTPDenver, NC46,139
Marine Corps Air Station Cherry PointCherry Point, NC17,144
Montgomery County Water SystemMt Gilead, NC14,710
Moore County Public Util. - PinehurstCarthage, NC29,509
North Lenoir Water CorpKinston, NC15,215
Old North Utilities Services/Ft. BraggFort Liberty, NC65,000
Onslow Water And Sewer AuthorityJacksonville, NC144,155
Orange Water & Sewer AuthorityCarrboro, NC86,300
Pamlico County WaterBayboro, NC19,665
Pasquotank County Ro Water SystemElizabeth City, NC10,213
Pasquotank County Water SystemElizabeth City, NC10,653
Pender County UtilitiesBurgaw, NC30,506
Perquimans County Water System252-426-4034, NC11,314
Piedmont Triad RegionalRandleman, NC367,681
Richmond County Water SystemRockingham, NC22,021
Roanoke Rapids Sanitary DistrictRoanoke Rapids, NC16,615
Robeson County Water SystemLumberton, NC65,303
Rockingham, City ofRockingham, NC12,204
Salisbury-RowanSalisbury, NC48,394
South Granville Water and Sewer AuthorityButner, NC17,232
Southern PinesPinebluff, NC25,382
Spring LakeSpring Lake, NC11,725
The Cape Master SystemDenver, NC11,368
Town of ApexApex, NC70,272
Town of BooneBoone, NC19,667
Town of Forest CityForest City, NC21,366
Town of Fuquay-VarinaFuquay-varina, NC39,065
Town of Holly SpringsHolly Springs, NC45,058
Town of MooresvilleMooresville, NC47,531
Town of Oak IslandOak Island, NC23,896
Town of SmithfieldSelma, NC12,900
Town of TarboroTarboro, NC10,844
Two Rivers UtilitiesGastonia, NC91,491
Union County Water SystemMonroe, NC145,019
USMC Lejeune - Hadnot PointCamp Lejeune, NC37,500
USMC Lejeune--Holcomb BlvdCamp Lejeune, NC17,000
USMC Lejeune--New River Air StationCamp Lejeune, NC11,500
ValdeseValdese, NC13,571
Wayne Water Districts PurchaseGoldsboro, NC16,302
Wayne Water DistrictsGoldsboro, NC32,425
WaynesvilleWaynesville, NC19,758
West Carteret Water CorpNewport, NC19,512
West Wilkes Water Association IncMillers Creek, NC12,202
Winterville, Town ofWinterville, NC10,462
Woodfin Sanitary Water and SewerAsheville, NC10,122

Utilities that accumulated/accrued the most violation points as of July 2021 to June 2024 in North Carolina

The Environmental Protection Agency's Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) database collects compliance and enforcement-related information for drinking water utilities nationwide. ECHO water quality violation scores take into account federal health-based water quality standards, as well as monitoring, reporting and other drinking water quality requirements. Points are accrued based on specific problems at the utility - violations of health-based drinking water standards receive more points than monitoring and reporting violations - and the length of time until the violations were corrected.

UtilityLocationPeople ServedViolation Points
Circle H Mobile Home ParkAberdeen, NC6871
Pender County UtilitiesBurgaw, NC30,50640
Mount Pleasant, Town of (wsacc)Mt. Pleasant, NC2,19425
Elm City, Town ofElm City, NC1,45020
Southern Trace S/dFranklinton, NC48517
Maxton, Town ofMaxton, NC2,35315
Middlesex Water SystemRaleigh, NC1,35011
Tuckaseigee Water & Sewer AuthoritySylva, NC7,50311
Canton Heights Mobile Home ParkAlbemarle, NC13210
Oak Ridge Military AcademyOak Ridge, NC15010
Orchard View ParkMount Airy, NC10910
Olde Mill Trace S/dBirmingham, NC17810
Minzie`s Creek Sanitary DistrictHertford, NC1919
Wind Shadows Circle Mobile Home ParkDunwoody, NC729
Mobile Home Park HavenCornelius, NC1429
Carolina Village Mobile Home ParkEastover, NC3059
Meadowview Mobile Home ParkStokesdale, NC929
Whispering Pines Mobile Home ParkDurham, NC3059
Winstead Mobile TerraceDurham, NC2008
Sunset Drive Mobile Home ParkRobbins, NC818
Woodland ParkChapel Hill, NC417
Rock Creek Mobile Home VillageGreensboro, NC2757
Rock Creek Mobile Home Village No. 2Greensboro, NC3057
Lilesville Water SystemLilesville, NC9007
Lakeside EstatesRaleigh, NC617
Whispering Pines Mobile Home ParkRaleigh, NC407
Cedar Lake CondoChapel Hill, NC407
Columbus, Town ofColumbus, NC2,4366
Topsail Greens S/dBurgaw, NC5496
Maple Oaks Mobile Home ParkGraham, NC556

Large utilities that accumulated/accrued the most violation points as of July 2021 to June 2024 in North Carolina

The Environmental Protection Agency's Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) database collects compliance and enforcement-related information for drinking water utilities nationwide. ECHO water quality violation scores take into account federal health-based water quality standards, as well as monitoring, reporting and other drinking water quality requirements. Points are accrued based on specific problems at the utility - violations of health-based drinking water standards receive more points than monitoring and reporting violations - and the length of time until the violations were corrected.

UtilityLocationPeople ServedViolation Points
Pender County UtilitiesBurgaw, NC30,50640
Cliffdale WestDenver, NC15,4635
Bayleaf MasterDenver, NC15,5855
Anson County Water SystemWadesboro, NC13,8804
Dan River Water IncEden, NC11,8902
Carolina Beach Water SystemCarolina Beach, NC12,2942
Franklin County Water & SewerYoungsville, NC24,6122
City of MonroeMonroe, NC37,2642
Moore County Public Util. - PinehurstCarthage, NC29,5092
Hoke County Regional Water SystemRaeford, NC24,8991
Davidson Water Inc.Welcome, NC163,5861
Onslow Water And Sewer AuthorityJacksonville, NC144,1551
City of High PointHigh Point, NC116,2701
Town of ApexApex, NC70,2721
Old North Utilities Services/Ft. BraggFort Liberty, NC65,0001
Town of Fuquay-VarinaFuquay-varina, NC39,0651
Craven County Water SystemNew Bern, NC36,8301
Southern PinesPinebluff, NC25,3821
Brevard, City ofBrevard, NC10,6861
Pamlico County WaterBayboro, NC19,6651
North Lenoir Water CorpKinston, NC15,2151
Energy United Water CorpHiddenite, NC13,4451
Edgecombe Water & Sewer DistrictTarboro, NC12,8451
ElonElon, NC11,3501

Contaminants found in North Carolina above health guidelines

Found above health guidelines Found
Contaminant # of Utilities People Served # of Utilities People Served
Bromodichloromethane8729,296,6828729,296,682
Chloroform9179,230,9139649,309,764
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)1,0509,014,9661,0529,016,497
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)1,1988,995,0131,2029,013,080
Dichloroacetic acid1,1188,872,0141,1448,935,929
Trichloroacetic acid7178,714,4807228,735,922
Haloacetic acids (HAA9)3958,058,3033978,059,768
Dibromochloromethane7387,778,3307908,518,077
Chromium (hexavalent)2916,171,1303847,890,992
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)2775,721,1862846,846,764
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)2335,074,2332876,824,588
Dibromoacetic acid4093,988,0814476,505,212
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS)1653,494,7051653,494,705
Bromoform2362,027,3333433,279,535
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)561,701,871561,701,871
Radium, combined (-226 & -228)5591,432,0755691,440,628
Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)491,393,150491,393,150
1,4-Dioxane481,161,6821593,108,903
Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)32788,43932788,439
Nitrate696667,9948051,370,624
Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)14612,18114612,181
Bromate11596,17111596,171
Nitrate & nitrite284488,952336691,967
Chlorite24429,09628593,136
Perfluoro-2-methyl-3-oxahexanoic acid (GenX)9414,858681,369,023
Chlorate24405,3673216,355,935
1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)11124,69811124,698
Arsenic30102,06830102,068
Uranium, combined (pCi/L)23386,853332236,637
Atrazine775,77282773,255
6:2 Fluorotelomer Sulfonic Acid (6:2 FTSA)650,88234780,869
Perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS)448,090448,090
Carbon tetrachloride69,4291249,954
Manganese439,1451,1088,843,146
Heptachlor epoxide194,8773446,111
Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)103,5821523,327
Chlordane61,94482,903
Ethylene dibromide21,7421056,440
Trichloroethylene41,11699,404
Benzene196521,373
Benzo[a]pyrene140954,778
Lindane1216882,714
Thallium1200328,106
1,2-Dichloropropane2168225,503
Toxaphene11351135
Cadmium11341134
Vinyl chloride175227,550
Beryllium16021,351

Contaminants found in North Carolina above legal limits

Contaminant # of Utilities People Served

What filter type is right for you?

Water
Contaminants

view utility

Carbon Filters

Can reduce the levels of many common contaminants.

pros

  • Lower upfront cost
  • Reduced maintenance

cons

  • Does not remove all contaminants

Reverse Osmosis

Most effective at reducing contaminants.

pros

  • Most effective

cons

  • Higher upfront cost
  • Requires more maintenance
  • Wastes water

Other Considerations

Ion Exchange

Pros: Softens hard water, Reduces some contaminants

Cons: Doesn't remove all contaminants

Whole-House Filters

Pros: Useful for reducing radiologicals and TCE

Cons: Expensive to install and maintain, Risk of bacterial contamination

Distillation

Pros: Removes heavy metals and harmful microbes

Cons: Does not reduce most contaminants

Take Action

Interested in supporting other causes? Learn more about our ongoing campaigns and how you can make a difference.

LEARN MORE

Need help finding a filter?

Discover top-rated filters that protect your family from harmful contaminants.

GET THE GUIDE

We’re in this together

Donate today and join the fight to protect our environmental health.

DONATE TODAY

Protect your water

Sign our petition to protect PFAS drinking water standards

TAKE ACTION
OSZAR »